PORT CHALMERS TOWN COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6232, 1 February 1882, Page 4

PORT CHALMERS TOWN COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of this Cauncil \yaa held was held on Monday evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mi- W. , Innes),, Cra Allen Ritchie/Dodson, M'Kenzie,. Chickj Law,1 and Morkane. ■ . CORRESPONDENCE. -':.'.... Sergeant Fergusson, chief warder Lyttolton jaol, wrote thanking the Council for its resolution regarding his promotion. • ■:;'-., Mr J. Stone made application for a piece of ■ ground on the Town Belt for building purposes. —Declined. '.-';•- ;'■■■■... Mr Dodds wrote accepting the Council's I terms for a special water supply. Mr De Maus wrote in reference to a reduction being made in the water rates for unoccupied buildings. — Eeferred to the Water Committee. , ■.'■.'. ' ".; . ■ Letters were received from Messrs Elder and M'Kenzie in reference to leasing the gas reserve in Mussel Bay.—Cr M'Kenzie moved and Or Ritchie seconded—" That Messrs Elder and MKeuzie meet the Council and make arrangements for the future supply of'gas to H.o t^vn." The .following.amendment was moved by Cr Law. and seconded by Crl)oDtZV~^ ' hat be to, stating that the Council has decided to lease, the site for gasworks to a public company, the same to )e offered to the citizens of Port Chalmers I!*^ —Thp- motion of Cr M'Kenzie was carried by five to two". ,; " ~ ':. : ■••>:--.~'-|

I • _• ■ . REPORTS. , . .The Lighting Committee's report,' bearing the signatures of five, councillors, recommendec that the gas reserve at Mussel Bay be valued at £50 per annum, and let to the company or parties who would undertake to supply the cheapest and best gas to the community..: Considerable discussion arose in reference to the value of the gas reserve, Cr Dodson considering its value to be £100 per annum, while on the motion of Cr M'Kexzie the site was valued only at £5. ' ' •; At this stage of the proceedings Cr. Dodson. rose and asked permission to retire, alleging as his reason that it was, impossible for him to sit there and witness councillors so bjind tp, their own interests, and those of the ratepayers as to decide that th,e value to be pla<!# unon the gas site should be at. the ra,te of £?.pgr auniim in the face of a report signed,by!fiVa councillors £50 ° 1 S9Y^ reserve afe

v ■ ■.■: . ■•:-. ' finance;, ;, . ;:, ■. Accounts amounting to £23 3s were passed for payment. . .; , ■ . . ;* -; .■ • The Colonial Secretary forwarded.theCbunwT^cw^S^^^S: th™^? 1!^ that the clerk acknowledge Mr rlC6l^ of T % communication, stating thlt

nl t. \ '.';'■' ■ ceptedr -S dßr-r ca^ fcing was ac

-. w , . ■-".- THE NEW DREDGE. ' Cr AllensaidVl asktheindulgence of the Council foraminute,o n a point of privilege; referring to the .celebration,or handing over : thedredge last Saturday.:,l. .was very sorry . £ °e A w°a &W?f ' after the Harbour .goarrthad. extended the courtesy of inyitin? the Mayor and his councillors to be present on that occasion, not one of us was there to say a word in J-esponse to, the ; toast which was pro- ' posed ln'.our honour.: As; 6ur,,absence ma" be : attributed'to iridifFerence,-1 "think, in justice to, -^ all,-the reason'should be made known.- In thA first place, his Worship.and Criaw were sum' moned^ to attend a mee'ting'bf.'tlie Dock Trust atll o'clock, while; some, were^.prevented from ' being present I through pressing, bnsiness engagements; and | others (myself.-included).did not receive their-in'vitatioas until an hour after theexcursien started. -Tt^'Suld have given me great pleasure to have Been present,.andl think - eachmember.ofthe.Cpuncil^wouldhave been equallygratifiedtohavetakEnpartincelebrating whatlthink wul prove the greatestevent that has. eyer occurred for. the good of this port I only.regret that the event had "not taken place manyi-years"ago':.then Otagp Harbour would h*. ve;P eld.a^higher place in-the estimation of shrpping circles than it does now. - :-,^.)vorßh'ip,the; i MAT6E, expressed' the": regret he feltat his inability to bepresent on the occasion; but upon reaching Dunedin his-first business was to get the; meeting of the Dock lrust postponed, which he succeeded in doing • wj ?P on,reaching" the wharf \vith Cr Law he had .the. mortification, of seeing the dredge steaming; down the harbour. He then returned to Port Chalmers by train, only to find on his reaching the dredge that the speechifvuigwasallover.'; ;:.":, . ... ..- : .